Ehhh, IMO it depends on your goals. You get better range of motion with dumbbells and if you're using body building/hypertrophy routines, IMO the db is superior. For strength training, I'd have to say the barbell is superior.

Idk if it is a rumor or not but many poeple claim that dumbells on chestpress work better for size then rugular barbell bench. Is this true? And if it is why?

As SoutherCharm said, it depends on your goals - as well as on the individual and their specific needs.

As well as potentially allowing greater range of motion on an exercise, dumbbells can be used for building unilateral strength or balancing out muscle weaknesses (if done correctly), but you also have the chance that you are going to cause more strength and muscle imbalances this way as well. Note that using dumbbells can also change the movement slightly depending on the position of the dumbbells.

Barbells are generally going to allow you an overall higher weight lifted, but one side may compensate the other, and therefore muscle weaknesses could also occur.

In the end, it is personal preference whether dumbbells or barbells are used, but IMO it is good to use BOTH.

~Rosie~

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I notice a bit more size gain with DB's but if I stick with them too long I lose a considerable amount of strength on BB press. Mix it up!

I can vouch for this... Ive been on cycle (ending next week) and been using DBs for basically my chest days. The last week I just went to see what I could put up with a barbell, and my max lift had gone down about 20-30 lbs. But I do have to say that I gained a considerable amount of mass, even on a cut (so you could say more of a recomp) using db's this whole time.. I will be switching it up more to keep myself balanced.

Anybody have any idea why this is, specifically why doing dumbbell makes you lose strength on barbell? It's the same motion, I would think it would be proportional. Are there "little helpers" not being used with dumbbell that are used with barbell?

Anybody have any idea why this is, specifically why doing dumbbell makes you lose strength on barbell? It's the same motion, I would think it would be proportional. Are there "little helpers" not being used with dumbbell that are used with barbell?

You generally use less weight with DB's due to stability issues. It is also these stability issues that incorporate more muscle fibers and in turn create more size.

DB exercises are also a great replacement exercise for bb lifts for when you're having elbow problems. Bad form or over-pressing with barbells can aggravate the elbows, and switching it up with dbs for a bit can help alleviate the pain.

I understand what guys are saying about stretch and fiber activation, but in my experience, I've put more mass on doing barbell bench. Dumbbells have greatly improved the overall shape of my chest however.

Originally Posted by OnTheRoadTo

Murder as many animals as you can on cycle, 400g+ protein always.

Don't overthink it, just do what any androgen crazed barbarian would do